U.S. patent application number 11/650521 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for apparatus and method for controlling devices in one or more home networks.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hyok-sung Choi, Myoung-soon Choi, Seung-hun Jeon, Ho Jin, Hae-sik Jun, Jong-wook Park, Seong-kook Shin, Young-chul Sohn.
Application Number | 20070271595 11/650521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38016805 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070271595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jin; Ho ; et al. |
November 22, 2007 |
Apparatus and method for controlling devices in one or more home
networks
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling devices in one or more home
networks is provided. The apparatus includes an authentication
unit, a control message generation unit, a control message
transmission unit, a response message reception unit, and an
information management unit. The authentication unit performs
authentication with one or more relay devices each connected to a
plurality of devices through a network. The control message
generation unit generates a control message in response to a user
input. The control message transmission unit transmits the
generated control message to a device selected by the user from
among the plurality of devices. The response message reception unit
receives a response message responding to the transmitted control
message. The information management unit manages information about
the relay devices and the plurality of devices.
Inventors: |
Jin; Ho; (Yongin-si, KR)
; Park; Jong-wook; (Gangnam-gu, KR) ; Jeon;
Seung-hun; (Seocho-gu, KR) ; Sohn; Young-chul;
(Gangnam-gu, KR) ; Choi; Myoung-soon; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Choi; Hyok-sung; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Shin;
Seong-kook; (Seocho-gu, KR) ; Jun; Hae-sik;
(Gwanak-gu, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
38016805 |
Appl. No.: |
11/650521 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
726/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/2834 20130101;
H04L 67/025 20130101; H04L 61/2582 20130101; H04L 29/12547
20130101; H04L 63/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
726/3 |
International
Class: |
H04L 9/32 20060101
H04L009/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0045274 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for controlling devices in one or more home
networks, the apparatus comprising: an authentication unit which
performs authentication with a plurality of relay devices, each of
the relay devices being connected to a plurality of devices through
a network; a control message generation unit which generates a
control message in response to an input; a control message
transmission unit which transmits the control message to a device
selected from among the plurality of devices; a response message
reception unit which receives a response message responding to the
control message; and an information management unit which manages
information about the relay devices and the devices.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication unit
receives an authentication request message from a relay device of
the relay devices and transmits an authentication response message
responding to the authentication request message to the relay
device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information management
unit generates a table which lists the devices connected to the
relay devices for each of the relay devices.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response message reception
unit receives a polling message from one of the relay devices at
time intervals.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control message
transmission unit transmits the control message generated by the
control message generation unit to the relay device when the
polling message is received.
6. An apparatus for controlling devices in one or more home
networks, the apparatus comprising: a connection state detection
unit which detects connection states of a plurality of devices
connected through a network; an authentication unit which performs
authentication with a control device which controls the devices;
and a message delivery unit which delivers messages transmitted and
received between the control unit and the devices.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the authentication unit
transmits an authentication request message to the control device
and receives an authentication response message responding to the
authentication request message.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the connection state detection
unit transmits information about the connection states of the
devices to the control device if the authentication has been
performed.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a message
conversion unit which converts messages transmitted and received
between the control device and the devices.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the message delivery unit
delivers the messages which are converted to the control device and
the devices.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the message conversion unit
converts the messages using a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
Traversal method.
12. A method of controlling devices in one or more home networks,
the method comprising: performing authentication with a plurality
of relay devices connected to a plurality of devices through a
network; generating a control message according to an input;
transmitting the control message to a device selected from among
the plurality of devices; receiving a response message responding
to the control message; and managing information about the relay
devices and the devices.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing the
authentication comprises: receiving an authentication request
message from a relay device of the relay devices; and transmitting
an authentication response message responding to the authentication
request message to the relay device.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the managing the information
comprises generating a table which lists the devices connected to
the relay devices for each of the relay devices.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the response
message comprises receiving a polling message from each of the
relay devices at time intervals.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting the control
message comprises transmitting the control message to the relay
device if the polling message is received.
17. A method of controlling devices in one or more home networks,
the method comprising: detecting connection states of a plurality
of devices connected through a network; performing authentication
with a control device controlling the devices; and delivering
messages transmitted and received between the control unit and the
devices.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the performing the
authentication comprises: transmitting an authentication request
message to the control device; and receiving an authentication
response message responding to the authentication request
message.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting connection states
comprises transmitting information about the connection states of
the devices to the control device if the authentication has been
performed.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising converting messages
transmitted and received between the control device and the
devices.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the delivering the messages
comprises delivering the messages which are converted to the
control device and the devices.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the converting the messages
comprises converting the messages using a Universal Plug and Play
(UPnP) Traversal method.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2006-0045274 filed on May 19, 2006 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present
invention relate to controlling devices in home networks and, more
particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling devices in
one or more home networks.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recently, with the development of communication and network
technology, various types of home networks have been developed, and
various technologies for improving user convenience when
controlling and monitoring many devices which constitute a home
network have been proposed. Representative examples of such
technologies include Universal I Plug and Play (UPnP), Digital
Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and the like.
[0006] Among them, UPnP provides a zero-configuration Plug and Play
function that does not require user settings, so that a device
automatically participates in a network, and dynamically acquires
an Internet Protocol (IP) address, delivers functions, and
identifies the presence and functions of other devices.
[0007] Meanwhile, as more homes and companies purchase additional
computers, networking is recognized as a powerful means for sharing
computer resources. Internet gateways are used to share Internet
connections and to enable homes and companies to easily and
inexpensively manage a network. Internet gateways provide Network
Address Translation (NAT) as a means for connecting several hosts
which share a common IP address with each other.
[0008] NAT is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard
that is used to enable several PCs and apparatuses to share a
single globally routable Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address
in a personal network (which uses the range of a personal address
such as 10.0.x.x, 192.168.x.x or 172.x.x.x). The main reason why
NAT is frequently used is that there are insufficient IPv4
addresses. NAT is used for sharing an Internet connection in
Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Me and other many Internet gateway
devices. In particular, NAT is used for sharing a high-speed
network through Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs).
[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a home network using a
general NAT device.
[0010] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the home network using a general
NAT device includes a plurality of clients 11, 12 and 13, a NAT
device 21 and a server 31.
[0011] In this case, when any one client 11 transmits a packet to
the server 31, the corresponding client 11 transmits the packet,
which includes a source IP address, a destination IP address, a
source port, a destination port and a network protocol, to a
gateway. In FIG. 1, the gateway may be understood to be the NAT
device 21.
[0012] The NAT device 21 intercepts the packet delivered from the
corresponding client 11 and makes a port mapping table using the
destination IP address, the destination port, the external IP
address of the NAT device 21, an external port, a network protocol
and an internal IP address and port.
[0013] In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the NAT device 21
performs conversion on the packet delivered from the corresponding
client 11 through the port mapping table, and delivers it to the
server 31.
[0014] In contrast, when the server 31 delivers a packet to the
clients 11, 12, and 13, the NAT device 21 receives the packet from
the server 31, compares the received packet with the port mapping
table, and performs inverse conversion on the packet, unlike the
case in which the client 11 delivers a packet to the server 31, as
described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0015] However, in the case of the above-described network of FIG.
1 which uses an NAT device, the NAT device 21 must support UPnP,
which was defined by the Internet Gateway Device Working Committee
of UPnP Forum and, thus, UPnP Traversal, and it is difficult to
apply it to a network in which a plurality of NATs are used.
[0016] Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-39039
discloses a control message multicast method and apparatus for a
UPnP-based network system, which includes SOAP/HTTPMU/UDP in UPnP
device architecture version 1.0 and can transmit the same control
message to a plurality of devices which exist in a UPnP network.
However, the method and apparatus are related to the elimination of
inconvenience in the transmission of the same control message to
each device through one to one communication, and have problems in
that the NAT apparatus must support UPnP and, thus, UPnP Traversal,
and it is difficult to apply them to a network in which a plurality
of NATs are used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the
above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above.
Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the
disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may not overcome any of the problems described
above.
[0018] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for
controlling devices in one or more home networks, which can easily
control the devices connected to the home networks through one or
more devices which perform a relay between the devices and an
external source, and allow the devices to be easily accessed
through the relay devices even if it is difficult to access the
home networks.
[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an apparatus for controlling devices in one or more home
networks, the apparatus including an authentication unit which
performs authentication with one or more relay devices, each
connected to a plurality of devices through a network, a control
message generation unit which generates a control message in
response to a user input, a control message transmission unit which
transmits the generated control message to a device selected by the
user from among the plurality of devices in the home network, a
response message reception unit which receives a response message
responding to the transmitted control message, and an information
management unit which manages information about the relay devices
and the devices in the home network.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an apparatus for controlling devices in one or more
home networks, the apparatus including a connection state detection
unit which detects connection states of a plurality of devices
connected through a network, an authentication unit which performs
authentication with a control device which controls the devices,
and a message delivery unit which delivers messages transmitted and
received between the control unit and the devices.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of controlling devices in one or more home
networks, the method including performing authentication with one
or more relay devices connected to a plurality of devices through a
network, generating a control message according to a user input,
transmitting the generated control message to a device selected by
the user from among the plurality of devices, receiving a response
message responding to the transmitted control message and managing
information about the relay devices and the devices.
[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of controlling devices in one or more home
networks, the method including detecting connection states of the
devices connected through a network, performing authentication with
a control device which controls the plurality of devices, and
delivering messages transmitted and received between the control
unit and the devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above and other aspects of the present invention will be
more clearly understood from the following detailed description of
exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a home network using a
general NAT device;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general port mapping
table;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a home network according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a control point according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a table managed by an
information management unit according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relay device according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of controlling
devices in a home network according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an authentication request
message according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an authentication response
message according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating search results to be
transmitted to the control point when a device exists in the home
network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating search results to be
transmitted to the control point when a device is removed from the
home network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a response message which
is transmitted by the control point according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention transmits based on the search
results;
[0036] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the polling method of the
relay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a polling message
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a control message
transmitted to the relay device by the control point in response to
the polling message of FIG. 14;
[0039] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a search request message
requesting searching for devices to the relay device when the
control point according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention receives the polling message; and
[0040] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a search result message
transmitted to the control point by the relay device according to
the search request message of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the
same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings
to designate the same or similar components.
[0042] The present invention is described hereinafter with
reference to flowchart illustrations of user interfaces, methods,
and computer program products according to exemplary embodiments of
the invention. It will be understood that each block of the
flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the
flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program
instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in
the flowchart block or blocks.
[0043] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer usable or computer-readable memory that can direct a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer usable or computer-readable memory produce an
article of manufacture including instruction means that implement
the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0044] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or
other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented
process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or
other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the
functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0045] Each block of the flowchart illustrations may represent a
module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more
executable instructions for implementing the specified logical
function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative
implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of
the order. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact
be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes
be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality
involved.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a home network system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] As illustrated, the network system 100 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a
plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113 which provide predetermined
services, a control point 120 which transmits control messages for
the control of the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113, and
receives response messages responding from the plurality of devices
111, 112 and 113, and a relay device 130 which relays the
transmission and reception of messages between the plurality of
devices 111, 112 and 113 and the control point 120 and delivers
information about the connection states of the plurality of devices
111, 112 and 113 to the control point 120. In this exemplary
embodiment, a network which consists of the plurality of devices
111, 112 and 113 and the relay device 130 connected to the
plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113 is called an "internal
network".
[0048] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113 may be
understood to be apparatuses, such as an appliance, a Personal
Computer (PC), a wireless communication apparatus, or the like,
capable of providing various services including video, music, or
imaging, connected to each other through the relay device 130 in a
specific location, UPnP, DLNA, etc. In this exemplary embodiment,
the case in which the internal network is constructed based on UPnP
is taken as an example.
[0049] The control point 120 is understood to be a web server that
is connected with the relay device 130 through the Internet, etc.,
transmits control messages to the plurality of devices 111, 112 and
113 connected to the delay device 130, and receives messages from
the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a control point according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control point 120 according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an
authentication unit 121 which achieves a connection to the relay
device 120 through a predetermined authentication process, a
control message generation unit 122 which generates control
messages capable of controlling the plurality of devices 111, 112
and 113 in response to an input from a user, a control message
transmission unit 123 which transmits the generated control
messages to the relay device 130, a response message reception unit
124 which receives response messages responding to the transmitted
control messages, and an information management unit 125 which
manages information about the relay device 130 and the plurality of
devices 111, 112 and 113 connected to the relay device 130.
[0052] The authentication unit 121 performs authentication with the
relay device 130 through an authentication request message
transmitted from the relay device 130. In this case, details
included in the authentication request message transmitted by the
relay device 130 may include a message type (for example,
Authentication or Polling), the URL of the control point 120 (for
example, 192.0.0.1 etc.), the UPnP IP (for example, 10.10.10.1
etc.), the device ID of the relay device 130 (for example,
00.0F.00.29.04.21 etc.), the name of the manufacturer of the relay
device 130, the model No. and model name of the relay device 130,
the type of the relay device 130 and the firmware version of the
relay device 130, as seen in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Details Description Notify message type Host
URL of control point UPnPHost IP & Port of relay device Uuid
UUID of relay device DeviceID ID of relay device(IP/MAC Address)
Manufacturer manufacturer name Model model name ModelNum model No.
DeviceType device type FirmwareVer firmware version
[0053] In Table 1, the respective details are only examples to
promote the understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, and the details included in Table 1 and the
authentication request message may be deleted or modified, or other
details may be added thereto.
[0054] The control message generation unit 122 can generate a
control message capable of controlling a predetermined device,
which a user wants to control, in response to an input from the
user, and the control message transmission unit 123 can transmit
the generated control message to the relay device 130 when the
authentication by the authentication unit 121 has been
completed.
[0055] The response message reception unit 124 can receive a
message in response to the control message transmitted by the
control message transmission unit 123, and can display the received
response message through a predetermined display device equipped
with the control point 120. Therefore, the user can be aware of the
results of control based on the control message through the
displayed response message.
[0056] The information management unit 125 can generate a
predetermined table using information about the relay device 130
and the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113 connected to the
relay device 130, which is transmitted from the relay device 130
therein, and then store it. The stored table has the form of Table
2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 IP address of relay device IP address of
device 192.10.10.20 IP address of device 1 IP address of device 2
IP address of device 3
[0057] In this case, Table 2 is an example of the case of
generating a table using the IP addresses of device 1, device 2 and
device 3 (111, 112 and 113) connected to the relay device having
the IP address of 192.10.10.20 and managing it.
[0058] Although, in FIG. 3, the case in which there is one relay
device 130 is described, the information management unit 125 may
generate a table for each relay device using information about
devices connected to the relay device in the case where two or more
relay devices exist.
[0059] When the information management unit 125 is connected
through the Internet to a first relay device 140 and a second relay
device 150 which have different IP addresses, and device 1 140a,
device 2 140b and device 3 140c are connected to the first relay
device 140, and device 4 150a and device 5 150b are connected to
the second relay device 150, as shown in FIG. 5, the information
management unit 125 classifies the first relay device 140 and the
second relay device 150 based on their IP addresses, and generates
a table which includes the IP addresses of devices connected to a
corresponding relay device based on the separated IP addresses, as
in the following Table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 IP address of relay device IP address of
device 192.10.10.20 IP address of device 1 IP address of device 2
IP address of device 3 192.10.10.30 IP address of device 4 IP
address of device 5
[0060] Although, in the above-described Tables 2 and 3, the case in
which a table is generated using the IP address of a relay device
and the IP addresses of devices in the home network and is managed
is described as an example, this is an example to aid in
understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, so the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
are not limited to this, and the table may be generated using
various details, such as a MAC address, and may be managed.
[0061] In this case, each of the first relay device 140 and the
second relay device 150 of FIG. 5 described above can be understood
to be an element identical to the relay device 130 of FIG. 3
described above. Therefore, each of the first relay device 140 and
the second relay device 150 may include components that are
identical to those of the relay device 130 of FIG. 3 described
above.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relay device according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] As illustrated, the relay device 130 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an
authentication unit 131 which achieves a connection through
authentication with the control point 120, a connection state
detection unit 132 which detects the connection states of a
plurality of devices 111, 112, and 113 connected to an internal
network, a message conversion unit 133 which converts messages
transmitted and received between the control point 120 and the
plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113, and a message delivery unit
134 which delivers the converted messages to the control point 120
and the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113.
[0064] The authentication unit 131 can perform authentication with
the above-described authentication unit 121 of the control point
120. In this case, the authentication unit 131 can transmit an
authentication request message based on Table 1, described above,
to the control point 120, and complete the authentication by
receiving an authentication response message in response to the
transmitted authentication request message.
[0065] The connection state detection unit 132 can detect the
connection states of the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113
connected to the relay device 130 through an internal network. For
example, the connection state detection unit 132 can detect the
addition or removal of a predetermined device, and then transmit
this information to the control point 120. In this case, the
control point 120 can update a table stored in the information
management unit 125 with the transmitted connection states.
[0066] Meanwhile, the connection states detected by the connection
state detection unit 132 can be transmitted to the control point
120 when authentication with the control point 120 is performed by
the authentication unit 131. When the connection state is changed
in a state maintaining the connection, a corresponding changed
content can be transmitted to the control point 120. Therefore, the
information management unit 125 of the control point 120 can
generate a table using information about connection states
transmitted upon authentication, and can update the table with the
changed content transmitted when the connection of the relay device
130 is maintained.
[0067] The message conversion unit 133 can perform the conversion
of messages transmitted and received between the control point 120
and the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113. The conversion of
messages can be performed by a NAT device which provides UPnP
support defined in the Internet Gateway Device Working Committee of
UPnP Forum, and, in an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the relay device 130 is understood as performing the
role of the NAT device. Furthermore, details about UPnP are
disclosed in http://www.upnp.org, and thus a detail description
thereof is omitted herein.
[0068] The message delivery unit 134 can be aware of the control
messages and response messages delivered between the control point
120 and the plurality of devices 111, 112 and 113, extract the body
of the messages therefrom, and then deliver the body of the
messages to the control point 120 and the plurality of devices 111,
112 and 113.
[0069] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of controlling the
devices of one or more home networks according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the method of controlling the
devices of one or more home networks, first, the relay device 130
transmits an authentication request message to the control point
120 at operation S110. In this case, the authentication request
message transmitted from the relay device 130 to the control point
120 may include respective details included in the above described
Table 1. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
authentication request message transmitted from the relay device
130.
[0071] The control point 120 transmits an authentication response
message to the relay device 130 in response to the authentication
request message transmitted by the relay device 130, thereby
completing the authentication process at operation S120. In this
case, the authentication response message transmitted by the
control point 120 may include details, such as the URL of the
control point 120 and FirmwareUpdateURL, as illustrated in FIG. 9,
but the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not
limited to them.
[0072] After having performed authentication with the control point
120, the relay device 130 searches for devices connected via an
internal network at operation S130.
[0073] The relay device 130 transmits search results for the
devices to the control point 120 at operation S140. In this
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the search results
transmitted to the control point 120 are described in the case
where a predetermined device exists in the internal network or in
the case where the predetermined device is removed therefrom as an
example. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of search
results when there is a predetermined device, and FIG. 11 can be
understood to be search results transmitted to the control point
120 when a predetermined device is removed from the internal
network.
[0074] Furthermore, when receiving the search results as in the
above-described FIGS. 10 and 11, the control point 120 can transmit
a response message, such as a message illustrated in FIG. 12, to
the relay device 130. In this case, FIG. 12 can be understood to be
a response message in the case where a predetermined device is
found in the internal network.
[0075] The control point 120 can generate a table in the
information management unit 125 based on the search results
transmitted from the relay device 130, and, if a pre-generated
table exists, can update the existing table at operation S150.
[0076] Upon input from a user, the control point 120 generates a
control message in response thereto, and transmits the generated
control message to the relay device 130 at operation S160. In this
case, the control point 120 generates a control message through the
control message generation unit 123. The generated control message
may include a source address, which is the address of the control
point 120, a destination address, which is the address of the relay
device 130, and the address of a corresponding device, which a user
desires to control, based on the above-described Tables 2 and
3.
[0077] When the message conversion unit 133 performs the conversion
of the transmitted control message, the relay device 130 then
transmits the converted control message to a corresponding device
at operation S170. In order words, the relay device 130 can extract
the body of a message from the control message transmitted from the
control point 120 based on the device address included in the
control message transmitted from the control point 120, and can
transmit it to a corresponding device.
[0078] The device that receives the control message generates a
predetermined response message and then transmits it to the relay
device 130 at operation S180. In this case, the relay device 130
converts the transmitted response message and then transmits it to
the control point 120 at operation S190. At this time, the relay
device 130 extracts the body of the message from the response
message transmitted from the corresponding device and transmits it
to the control point 120.
[0079] Meanwhile, if the control point 120 and the relay device 130
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention have
completed authentication, but the control point 120 cannot access
the relay device 130 for any reason, for example, a security
breach, the relay device 130 can transmit a polling message to the
control point 120 at predetermined time intervals. In this case,
when it receives the polling message from the relay device 130, the
control point 120 can transmit a control message, which is
generated and stored until the polling message is received, to the
relay device 130. In an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the case where the control message is transmitted when
the polling message is received in the control point 120 is
described as an example, but the present invention is not limited
to this, and can perform various functions such as searching for
predetermined devices.
[0080] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the polling method of a
relay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0081] As illustrated, in the polling method of a relay device
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
first, the relay device 130 transmits a polling message, as
illustrated in FIG. 14, to the control point 120 at predetermined
time intervals based on a product design or user settings at
operation S210.
[0082] The control point 120 generates and stores a control message
in response to input from a user until the polling message is
transmitted from the relay device 130, and transmits the stored
control message, such as that illustrated in FIG. 15, to the relay
device 130 at operation S220. Furthermore, the control point 120
can perform not only the transmission of the control message but
also searching for predetermined devices when the polling message
is received.
[0083] For example, when the polling message is received from the
relay device 130, the control point 120 can transmit a search
request message, such as that illustrated in FIG. 16, to the relay
device 130, requesting a search for devices connected to the relay
device 130, and the relay device 130 can transmit device search
results, such as that is illustrated in FIG. 17, to the control
point 120.
[0084] The relay device 130 delivers the control message
transmitted from the control point 120 to a corresponding device,
and the corresponding device transmits a response message to the
relay device 130 at operation S240.
[0085] The relay device 130 transmits the response message
transmitted from the corresponding device to the control point 120
at operation S250.
[0086] The term `unit`, as used herein, means, but is not limited
to, a software or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable
Gate Array (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC), which performs certain tasks. A unit may advantageously be
configured to reside on the addressable storage medium and may be
configured to execute on one or more processors. Thus, a unit may
include, by way of example, components, such as software
components, object-oriented software components, class components
and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures,
subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware,
microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables,
arrays, and variables. The functionality provided for in the
components and units may be combined into fewer components and
units, or may be further separated into additional components and
units.
[0087] According to the above-described apparatus and method for
controlling devices in one or more home networks, messages
transmitted and received between a control point and the devices of
the home network are delivered through a relay device, and the
control point can access the devices of the home network through
polling in the relay device even if it is difficult to access the
home networks, so that there is an advantage in that the control
point can be provided with various services from the devices of the
home network.
[0088] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *
References